Retirement age now 65

STEVEN MVULA, Lusaka
THE retirement age has been increased from 55 to 65 years.
Acting President Guy Scott signed the statutory instrument on November 19 to effect the change.â€œAn officer in the public service shall retire on the 65th anniversary of the date of the officerâ€™s birth,â€ the instrument reads in part.
It says an officer may, on giving a yearâ€™s notice and subject to the approval of the president, retire on or after attaining the age of 65 or after completing 35 yearsâ€™ service.
But Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) secretary general Roy Mwaba says the decision contradicts the constitution.
Mr Mwaba said in an interview yesterday that the law contradicts the constitutional retirement age of 55.
â€œWe proposed 60 years and said 65 would be voluntary,â€ he said.
Mr Mwaba said the labour movement did its best to negotiate but now the worry is that some retirees would die before receiving their benefits.
â€œThe life span in Zambia is at about 48 years and constitutionally, retirement age is still 55, so this can be contested,â€ Mr Mwaba said.
Dr Scott and Minister of Labour and Social security Fackson Shamenda could not be reached for comment.